Widespread availability of online video means less P2P use

October 28th, 2009

P2P use is down this year, possibly thanks to the growing availability of online video. Network equipment provider Sandvine observed these two trends in its “2009 Global Broadband Phenomena” report (via Broadband Reports), noting that there was a “dramatic increase” in realtime video consumption while users are moving away from bulk downloads that they can’t consume right now. While this doesn’t mean P2P is dead just yet, it reflects a shifting user focus as more content providers give people what they want the legal way.

“Realtime entertainment traffic”—which includes video and audio streaming, Flash media, and other various webcasts—grew to more than 26 percent in 2009, according to Sandvine. This reflected a 12.6 percent growth, or a near doubling of the numbers from last year. YouTube, of course, remains a top destination for those looking for video entertainment, and North Americans consume the most videos (per subscriber) globally. Europeans, however, consume the most YouTube minutes out of any region.